Fencing panel

Abstract

A fence panel comprises a first frame rail that includes a first beam portion and a first fin that is adjacent to the first beam portion, and a barrier component attached to the first fin. A resistance weldment may reside at the attachment between the barrier component and the first fin. The first fin may be integral with the first beam portion. The first frame rail and the first fin may comprise a single roll form or a single extrusion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fence panel, comprising:
 a first frame rail, the first frame rail including:
 a first beam portion that defines a closed and hollow cross-section that has a center, the closed and hollow cross-section being one of circular, rectangular, elliptical, or polygonal; and 
 a first fin that is adjacent to the first beam portion the first fin residing in a plane that includes the center; 
 
 a barrier component, the barrier component having at least one of (a) a desired, predetermined length and defining an actual length that is different than the desired, predetermined length as a result of stretching or compression of the barrier component and (b) a desired, predetermined width and defining an actual width that is different than the desired, predetermined width as a result of stretching or compression of the barrier component; 
 the first fin extending from the first frame rail by a distance sufficient to allow for attachment of the barrier component to the first fin with the barrier component including the difference between the barrier component desired, predetermined length and actual length and/or the difference between the barrier component desired, predetermined width and actual width; and 
 wherein a weldment resides at the attachment between the barrier component and the first fin. 
 
     
     
       2. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein a resistance weldment resides at the attachment between the barrier component and the first fin. 
     
     
       3. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein a resistance weldment resides between and is in contact with both the barrier component and the first fin. 
     
     
       4. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein only a resistance weldment resides between the barrier component and the first fin at the attachment. 
     
     
       5. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first fin is integral with the first beam portion. 
     
     
       6. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame rail and the first fin comprise a single roll form. 
     
     
       7. The fence panel of  claim 1 , the first frame rail and the first fin consisting of a single roll form. 
     
     
       8. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame rail and the first fin comprise a single extrusion. 
     
     
       9. The fence panel of  claim 1 , the first frame rail and the first fin consisting of a single extrusion. 
     
     
       10. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame rail carries first and second connectors upon the first beam portion, the first and second connectors residing opposite the first fin. 
     
     
       11. The fence panel of  claim 1 , the fence panel further having a second frame rail that has a second beam portion and a second fin, wherein the first and second frame rails are identical. 
     
     
       12. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fence panel further has a second frame rail that has a second beam portion and a second fin; 
 the second frame rail is identical to the first frame rail; 
 the first frame rail carries first and second connectors upon the first beam portion that reside opposite the first fin; and 
 the second frame rail carries third and fourth connectors upon the second beam portion that reside opposite the second fin. 
 
     
     
       13. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first frame rail carries first and second hinges upon the first beam portion, the first and second hinges residing opposite the first fin. 
     
     
       14. The fence panel of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fence panel includes a second frame rail that has a second beam portion and a second fin, and the second frame rail is identical to the first frame rail; 
 the first frame rail carries first and second connectors upon the first beam portion; and 
 the second frame rail carries first and second drop cane collars upon the second beam portion that reside opposite the second fin. 
 
     
     
       15. A fence panel, comprising:
 a rectangular perimeter frame, the perimeter frame having four frame rails, each frame rail defining a closed and hollow cross-section having predetermined dimensions between them and including an integral fin, the perimeter frame residing in a plane, each rail defining a depth perpendicular to the plane; 
 each integral fin residing at neither terminus of the depth and extending generally toward the other integral fins by a width from its respective frame rail; 
 a barrier component, the barrier component defining a dimensioning mismatch with the predetermined dimensions; 
 the width being sufficient to allow the barrier component to have been attached to the four integral fins; and 
 resistance weldments between the barrier component and the four integral fins. 
 
     
     
       16. The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein each integral fin resides at approximately the midpoint of the depth. 
     
     
       17. The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein the four frame rails have indicia of roll forming. 
     
     
       18. The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein the four frame rails have indicia of extrusion. 
     
     
       19. The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein one of the four frame rails carries a connector, the connector residing opposite the fin of the one of the four frame rails. 
     
     
       20. The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein one of the four frame rails carries a hinge, the hinge residing opposite the fin of the one of the four frame rails. 
     
     
       21. The fence panel of  claim 15 , wherein:
 a first of the four frame rails carries a hinge, the hinge residing opposite the fin of the first of the four frame rails; and 
 a second of the four frame rails carries a drop cane collar, the second of the four frame rails being generally parallel to the first of the four frame rails. 
 
     
     
       22. A method of making a fence panel, comprising the steps of:
 creating a hollow first frame rail that includes an integral first fin by one of roll forming and extrusion, the first fin residing in a first plane that includes the cross-sectional center of the first frame rail; 
 creating a hollow second frame rail that includes an integral second fin by one of roll forming and extrusion, the second fin residing in a second plane that includes the cross-sectional center of the second frame rail; 
 orienting the first and second frame rails such that the first and second fins extend generally toward each other; 
 positioning a barrier component upon both the first and second fins, the barrier component having dimensions that are variable from predetermined dimensions due to handling the barrier component during its fabrication; and 
 joining the barrier component to the first and second fins by resistance welding. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further including the steps of attaching first and second connectors to the first frame rail. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22 , further including the steps of:
 attaching first and second connectors to the first frame rail opposite the first fin; and 
 attaching first and second drop cane collars to the second frame rail opposite the second fin. 
 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , further including the steps of:
 attaching a latch proximate to the second frame rail; and 
 positioning a drop cane within the first and second drop cane collars.